warden
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warden¹
- /ˈwɔːdən/ UK
- /ˈwɔɹdən/ US
Rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)dən
Where it comes from
From Middle English wardein, from Anglo-Norman wardein, from warder (“to guard”), variant of Old French guarder (“to guard”) (whence modern French garder, also English guard), from Proto-Germanic *wardāną; related to Old High German wartēn (“to watch”). Compare guardian, French gardien, from Old French guardian, guardein. Compare also ward and reward. Doublet of guardian.
noun wardens
- A guard or watchman. He called to the wardens on the outside battlements.
- A chief administrative officer of a prison. The warden of the state prison, Ezekiel Purdy, was a kind man if stern. He invariably made all newcomers a little speech of welcome […]
- An official charged with supervisory duties or with the enforcement of specific laws or regulations; such as a game warden or air-raid warden.
- A governing official in various institutions the warden of a college
verb wardens · wardening · wardened
- To carry out the duties of a warden.
warden²
- /ˈwɔːdən/ UK
- /ˈwɔɹdən/ US
Rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)dən
Where it comes from
From Middle English wardon, origin uncertain; perhaps from Anglo-Norman or Anglo-Latin wardo, -ōnis.
noun wardens
- A variety of pear. Faith I would have had him rosted like a warden in a brown Paper, and no more talk on’t:
Warden³
proper noun
- A surname originating as an occupation for a warden.
- A village and civil parish in south Northumberland, England (OS grid ref NY9166).
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: warder, guard, guardian, gatekeeper, safekeeping, custodial, doorman, caretaker, jailer, janitor, custodian, watchman, patrol, guards, officer, custody
Translations
Every language
noun a chief administrative officer of a prison
| Español | alcaide, casillero |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 刑務所長 keimusho-chō, 看守 kanshu |
| 中文 | 典獄長 /典狱长 diǎnyùzhǎng, 看守人 kānshǒurén |
| Português | diretor (de presídio) |
| Français | directeur de prison |
| Deutsch | Gefängnisdirektor, Gefängnisdirektorin |
| Italiano | direttore, direttrice |
| Română | director de închisoare |
| Русский | нача́льник тюрьмы́ načálʹnik tjurʹmý |
| العربية | آمِر سِجْن ʔāmir sijn |
noun an official charged with supervisory duties
| Español | comandante, guardabosque(s), director, guardapesca, guardacaza |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 所長 shochō |
| Português | supervisor |
| Deutsch | Aufseher |
| Italiano | preside, guardiano, supervisore |
| Română | supraveghetor, supraveghetoare |
| Русский | смотри́тель smotrítelʹ, надзира́тель nadzirátelʹ |
Talk about this word "warden." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/warden. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. warden. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/warden "warden." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/warden.Cite this
@misc{warden_2026,
title = {warden},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/warden},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
